Author Archives for Louellen Essex
Prepare to Give Critical Feedback with These Vital Questions
July 30, 2021 10:40 am Leave your thoughtsPreparing to give critical feedback helps ensure a potentially challenging discussion produces the result you are after. Comedian and television personality Craig Ferguson suggests that preparation begin with three important questions: Does this need to be said? Sometimes reflection leads to the conclusion that the issue is not relevant nor important enough to address. Does this need to be said…
How to Harness the Power of Positive Feedback
February 14, 2021 10:40 am Leave your thoughtsStudy after study tells us that people don’t feel they get enough praise and recognition at work. With more staff members working from home and feeling isolated, the need to be acknowledged is even more acute. It’s easy to feel disconnected and individually unnoticed, given the massive number of virtual meetings, often with cameras off, that many are experiencing. Yet,…
4 Ways to Upgrade Your Virtual Leadership Approach
November 9, 2020 8:28 pm 5 CommentsAs the pandemic of 2020 struck, many leaders were compelled to dramatically pivot as their workplace became entirely virtually. With no live meetings or individual conversations, the computer screen and microphone became the primary vehicle for communication. While not always as valuable, virtual interactions can be highly effective if leaders are intentional about how they engage with their staff. Here…
4 Things Leaders Misjudge During Change
April 21, 2018 2:26 pm Leave your thoughtsWith the rapid pace of complex change in most organizations, leaders often get drawn into activities that take them away from the staff members they are leading. Frequent meetings outside of the work unit tend to be a major culprit. Absence from meaningful contact can cause leaders to misread what staff members are experiencing, some of which may be emotional…
Indicators Your Leadership Approach is Hurting Your Team’s Development
February 7, 2018 2:19 pm Leave your thoughtsTeam leadership requires keen self-awareness of the impact of behavior on a team’s performance. Often leaders inadvertently stunt the growth of their teams by exhibiting meeting conduct that is ineffective and even harmful. Here are some signs that your approach might be suboptimal. Communication is funneled to you. Think about the way communication flows around the team table. Who talks…
How to Develop a Strong Leadership Presence
August 24, 2017 2:21 pm Leave your thoughtsWhen admired, respected leaders walk into a room where others are gathered, their presence sends a message about who they are and what they represent. Those around them form judgments in a matter of seconds and the impressions are lasting. The intangible traits they emanate begin to create or reinforce their leadership presence, a critical factor separating high-performing leaders from…
How to Know If You Are a Micromanager
May 9, 2017 2:22 pm Leave your thoughtsMicromanagement is excessive oversight of an employee’s work. When a manager hovers, it causes the employee to feel mistrusted to competently do the work assigned. It can tear down motivation since having autonomy is highly valued by most employees. Below are listed the telltale signs of micromanagement. Identify those that you frequently display to determine if you are slipping into…
Three Performance Management Blind Spots Leaders Should Avoid
January 24, 2017 2:23 pm Leave your thoughtsManaging staff member performance is challenging at best. Individuals come to work with a variety of skills, attitudes, and experiences that require leaders to be adept at adapting to varying needs by using customized approaches. One size does not fit all. Because performance management is complex and time consuming, it is easy for leaders to be blindsided by engaging in…